UPSC General Studies 2021

Evaluate the nature of the Bhakti literature and its contribution to Indian culture. (Answer in 150 words) 10

Trace the rise and growth of socio-religious reform movements with special reference to Young Bengal and Brahmo Samaj. (Answer in 150 words) 10

Assess the main administrative issues and socio-cultural problems in the integration process of Indian Princely States. (Answer in 150 words) 10

Differentiate the causes of landslides in the Himalayan region and Western Ghats. (Answer in 150 words) 10

Despite India being one of the countries of the Gondwanaland, its mining industry contributes much less to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in percentage. Discuss. (Answer in 150…

What are the environmental implications of the reclamation of water bodies into urban land use ? Explain with examples. (Answer in 150 words) 10

Mention the global occurrence of volcanic eruptions in 2021 and their impact on regional environment. (Answer in 150 words) 10

Why is India considered as a subcontinent ? Elaborate your answer. (Answer in 150 words) 10

Examine the uniqueness of tribal knowledge system when compared with mainstream knowledge and cultural systems. (Answer in 150 words) 10

Examine the role of 'Gig Economy' in the process of empowerment of women in India. (Answer in 150 words) 10

To what extent did the role of the Moderates prepare a base for the wider freedom movement ? Comment. (Answer in 250 words) 15

Bring out the constructive programmes of Mahatma Gandhi during Non-Cooperation Movement and Civil Disobedience Movement. (Answer in 250 words) 15

"There arose a serious challenge to the Democratic State System between the two World Wars." Evaluate the statement. (Answer in 250 words) 15

Briefly mention the alignment of major mountain ranges of the world and explain their impact on local weather conditions, with examples. (Answer in 250 words) 15

How do the melting of the Arctic ice and glaciers of the Antarctic differently affect the weather patterns and human activities on the Earth ? Explain. (Answer in 250 words) 15

Discuss the multi-dimensional implications of uneven distribution of mineral oil in the world. (Answer in 250 words) 15

What are the main socio-economic implications arising out of the development of IT industries in major cities of India ? (Answer in 250 words) 15

Discuss the main objectives of Population Education and point out the measures to achieve them in India in detail. (Answer in 250 words) 15

What is Cryptocurrency ? How does it affect global society ? Has it been affecting Indian society also ? (Answer in 250 words) 15

How does Indian society maintain continuity in traditional social values ? Enumerate the changes taking place in it. (Answer in 250 words) 15

'Constitutional Morality' is rooted in the Constitution itself and is founded on its essential facets. Explain the doctrine of 'Constitutional Morality' with the help of relevant…

Discuss the desirability of greater representation to women in the higher judiciary to ensure diversity, equity and inclusiveness. (Answer in 150 words) 10

How have the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission of India enabled the States to improve their fiscal position? (Answer in 150 words) 10

To what extent, in your view, the Parliament is able to ensure accountability of the executive in India? (Answer in 150 words) 10

"Pressure groups play a vital role in influencing public policy making in India." Explain how the business associations contribute to public policies. (Answer in 150 words) 10

"Besides being a moral imperative of a Welfare State, primary health structure is a necessary precondition for sustainable development." Analyze. (Answer in 150 words) 10

'Earn while you learn' scheme needs to be strengthened to make vocational education and skill training meaningful." Comment. (Answer in 150 words) 10

Can the vicious cycle of gender inequality, poverty and malnutrition be broken through microfinancing of women SHGs? Explain with examples. (Answer in 150 words) 10

"If the last few decades were of Asia's growth story, the next few are expected to be of Africa's." In the light of this statement, examine India's influence in Africa in recent y…

"The USA is facing an existential threat in the form of a China, that is much more challenging than the erstwhile Soviet Union." Explain. (Answer in 150 words) 10

The jurisdiction of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) regarding lodging an FIR and conducting probe within a particular State is being questioned by various States. Howeve…

Though the Human Rights Commissions have contributed immensely to the protection of human rights in India, yet they have failed to assert themselves against the mighty and powerfu…

Analyze the distinguishing features of the notion of Right to Equality in the Constitutions of the USA and India. (Answer in 250 words) 15

Explain the constitutional provisions under which Legislative Councils are established. Review the working and current status of Legislative Councils with suitable illustrations.…

Do Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committees keep the administration on its toes and inspire reverence for parliamentary control? Evaluate the working of such committee…

Has digital illiteracy, particularly in rural areas, coupled with lack of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) accessibility hindered socio-economic development? Examine…

"Though women in post-Independent India have excelled in various fields, the social attitude towards women and feminist movement has been patriarchal." Apart from women education…

Can Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organizations present an alternative model of public service delivery to benefit the common citizen? Discuss the challenges of this alternat…

Critically examine the aims and objectives of SCO. What importance does it hold for India? (Answer in 250 words) 15

The newly tri-nation partnership AUKUS is aimed at countering China's ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region. Is it going to supersede the existing partnerships in the region? Discu…

Explain the difference between computing methodology of India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) before the year 2015 and after the year 2015. (Answer in 150 words)

Distinguish between Capital Budget and Revenue Budget. Explain the components of both these Budgets. (Answer in 150 words)

How did land reforms in some parts of the country help to improve the socio-economic conditions of marginal and small farmers? (Answer in 150 words)

How and to what extent would micro-irrigation help in solving India's water crisis? (Answer in 150 words)

How is S-400 air defence system technically superior to any other system presently available in the world? (Answer in 150 words)

Explain the purpose of the Green Grid Initiative launched at World Leaders Summit of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November, 2021. When was this idea first…

Describe the key points of the revised Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) recently released by the World Health Organisation (WHO). How are these different from its last update…

Discuss about the vulnerability of India to earthquake related hazards. Give examples including the salient features of major disasters caused by earthquakes in different parts of…

Discuss how emerging technologies and globalisation contribute to money laundering. Elaborate measures to tackle the problem of money laundering both at national and international…

Keeping in view India's internal security, analyse the impact of cross-border cyber attacks. Also discuss defensive measures against these sophisticated attacks. (Answer in 150 wo…

Do you agree that the Indian economy has recently experienced V-shaped recovery? Give reasons in support of your answer. (Answer in 250 words)

"Investment in infrastructure is essential for more rapid and inclusive economic growth." Discuss in the light of India's experience. (Answer in 250 words)

What are the salient features of the National Food Security Act, 2013? How has the Food Security Bill helped in eliminating hunger and malnutrition in India? (Answer in 250 words)

What are the present challenges before crop diversification? How do emerging technologies provide an opportunity for crop diversification? (Answer in 250 words)

What are the research and developmental achievements in applied biotechnology? How will these achievements help to uplift the poorer sections of the society? (Answer in 250 words)

The Nobel Prize in Physics of 2014 was jointly awarded to Akasaki, Amano and Nakamura for the invention of Blue LEDs in 1990s. How has this invention impacted the everyday life of…

Describe the major outcomes of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). What are the commitme…

Describe the various causes and the effects of landslides. Mention the important components of the National Landslide Risk Management Strategy. (Answer in 250 words)

Analyse the multidimensional challenges posed by external state and non-state actors, to the internal security of India. Also discuss measures required to be taken to combat these…

Analyse the complexity and intensity of terrorism, its causes, linkages and obnoxious nexus. Also suggest measures required to be taken to eradicate the menace of terrorism. (Answ…

(a) Identify five ethical traits on which one can plot the performance of a civil servant. Justify their inclusion in the matrix. (Answer in 150 words) 10 (b) Identify ten essenti…

(a) Impact of digital technology as reliable source of input for rational decision making is a debatable issue. Critically evaluate with suitable example. (Answer in 150 words) 10…

What does each of the following quotations mean to you? (a) "Every work has got to pass through hundreds of difficulties before succeeding. Those that persevere will see the light…

(a) Attitude is an important component that goes as input in the development of human being. How to build a suitable attitude needed for a public servant? (b) In case of crisis of…

(a) "Refugees should not be turned back to the country where they would face persecution or human right violation." Examine the statement with reference to ethical dimension being…

(a) An independent and empowered social audit mechanism is an absolute must in every sphere of public service, including judiciary, to ensure performance, accountability and ethic…

Sunil is a young civil servant and has a reputation for his competence, integrity, dedication and relentness pursuit of difficult and onerous jobs. Considering his profile, he was…

You are Vice Principal of a degree college in one of the middle-class towns. Principal has recently retired and management is looking for his replacement. There are also feelers t…

An elevated corridor is being constructed to reduce traffic congestion in the capital of a particular state. You have been selected as project manager of this prestigious project…

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has quickly spread to various countries. As on May 8th, 2020, in India 56342 positive cases of corona had been reported. India with a p…

A reputed food product company based in India developed a food product for the international market and started exporting the same after getting necessary approvals. The company a…

Pawan is working as an officer in the State Government for the last ten years. As a part of routine transfer, he was posted to another department. He joined in a new office along…